description SS John Barry Overview
The SS John Barry was a Liberty ship constructed during World War II to transport massive amounts of cargo across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. On August 28, 1944, the vessel was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-859 in the Arabian Sea while en route to the Persian Gulf. The ship was reportedly carrying a large shipment of silver bullion intended for the Soviet Union as part of the Lend-Lease program. Decades later, the wreck became the center of a complex, multi-national salvage operation and legal dispute over the recovery of its valuable cargo.
help SS John Barry FAQ
What kind of ship was SS John Barry?
SS John Barry was an American Liberty-class steam merchant built for World War II cargo work and completed in 1942. Ship records list it at about 7,176 tons, with Lykes Bros SS Co as owner. [uboat.net](https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/3340.html)
How did SS John Barry sink?
On August 28, 1944, German submarine U-859 torpedoed the unescorted ship in the Arabian Sea. The US Navy chronology places the sinking at 15°10'N, 55°18'E while the ship was sailing from Aden toward the Persian Gulf. [US Navy chronology](https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1944.html)
Why is the SS John Barry wreck historically famous?
It carried a wartime shipment of roughly three million silver coins from Aden toward Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia. That unusual cargo made the wreck notable beyond its role as an ordinary Liberty ship. [Naval History and Heritage Command](https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-033/h-033-1.html)
How many people survived the sinking?
The ship's complement was 68, and historical ship records report 66 survivors and 2 deaths. The surviving group included 39 of 41 merchant crew and all 27 armed guards, according to the wartime chronology. [US Navy chronology](https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1944.html)
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